Popular restaurant chain Secret Recipe had its Halal certification revoked earlier this month not because it suddenly decided to serve pork, but because its main kitchen was deemed too unhygienic by Islamic assessors.
Secret Recipe Manufacturing Sdn Bhd CEO Steven Sim told The Malaysian Insider‘s Muzliza Mustafa that he respects the decision reached by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) in revoking the Halal certification for his chain, and is now cooperating with the department to get Secret Recipe back in line with Islamic standards of cleanliness.
“Our main kitchen had been undergoing upgrading exercises that have unfortunately sparked off hygiene concerns.
“However, we have completed all upgrades to our facilities and are fully prepared to be reassessed by Jakim at any time,” he said in an e-mailed statement today.
Secret Recipe Malaysia’s Facebook page posted a scan of the company’s letter of clarification on the matter:
Sim added his expression of apology to the public over their apprehension on Secret Recipe’s non-Halal status.
“Our company has been awarded Halal certification for the past 15 years, and we assure that all our products, systems and processes are in line with halal certification standards,” he said.
Jakim’s Halal Hub Department director Hakimah Mohd Yusoff clarified that the revocation of Secret Recipe’s Halal certicate was not due to any non-Halal ingredients in the chain’s menu items.
She added that Jakim will reevaluate the chain’s Halal certification once a follow-up inspection is carried out, in accordance with Malaysia Standard 1500:2009 and Halal Certification Procedure Manual 2014.
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